Does this do anything to the engine cus i've heard bad things about ethanol. Just wondering before i buy my Evo.

 

In Michigan 95% of all gas that you find has 10% ETOH (ethanol) in it. I heard something about gasoline companies getting a tax discount from the state if they sell the 90/10 stuff. This causes no problems with our cars. Going much higher than 10% can have some adverse effects, though.

Pound for pound, ETOH makes less power than gasoline. So, if you can find pure gasoline you may be able to make a little more power. I have not yet seen this confirmed on the dyno, though.

EVOlutionary

 

I assume your referring to the fuel additive that is supposed to reduce emissions? Unfortunately it is law that all fuel sold out here (Boulder County) during the winter months has ethanol.

It is harder on seals than just straight gas, but should do no real harm to the car. I have run my car on this gas for over 1 year with no ill effects. Newer cars have newer seals that are designed to be more resistant to its corrosive effects.

I would, however, prefer not to use it!

Ironically, although it burns with less pollutants than straight gas, it is less efficient. This means that in the long run, since it takes more gas to get somewhere, you are actually increasing pollution.

 

Alright. Thanks for the help, guys. Greatly appreciated. Gov. is weird like that huh? Decrease pollutants by bringing down our MPG....increasing our trips to the tanker. Yeah thanks again.

 

This confirms my theory on why my gas mileage has sucked since November. Went to Oregon last week and my mileage was way up.

 

isn't ethanol the same basic alchohol type in booze we drink?

 

Yes. Same thing. Most beers have aproximately 5% Ethanol, wine about 12%, and liquor about 40%. And Michigan gas has 10%. Ever heard of Everclear? It is the strongest consumable alcohol you can buy (only in certain states like Indiana). It is 95% Ethanol. Nasty stuff!

EVOlutionary

 

Only gas station around here that sells gas with ethanol in it is Sunoco...where I get my 94 Octane from

 

GottaGoFaster,

I bet if you do a scientific comparison (run on a dyno or have someone time your run, etc.) that you would be faster with 93 octane pure gasonline than with the 94 octane gasohol that you are getting at that Sunoco place. That is just my thoughts. I don't know if anyone has proven this before or not. 90% of both fuels are essentially the same, but that last 10% of gasoline has alot more "BANG" in it than 10% of ETOH.

EVOlutionary

 

just run a water injection system and put 50% allky in there. soposed to be fine, ansd will let you run a few PSI more!

Chris.

 

I would like to see that kind of a test done. I wonder if 1 octane rating higher than 93 would compensate for the supposed horsepower loss of being 10% ethanol?

 

The BTU/gal of ethanol is lower than that of gasoline, so yes, your mileage is poorer. But, if it's tuned for it, the engine's effective volumetric efficiency is higher with an oxygenated fuel (the AFR is lower) so you can, in fact, make more power. From a BTU/gal point of view nitromethane looks weak but top fuel dragsters seem to make some good numbers with it!

As to emissions, the power per pound of CO2 produced (the important thing, not per pound of fuel consumed) is probably not too different from gasoline. The kind of emissions differ though. Ethanol produces more aldehydes, which tend to be "smoggy."

I wonder if oxygenated gas makes any real difference in modern engines. It tricks carbureted engines into running leaner, but how many of those are left? And since it doesn't cost any less than regular gas the mileage penalty translates to a money penalty. But it won't damage the car.

Dave

 

about 2 years ago i almost killed my self w/ that ****.. i plan on drinking it at prom this year again.. wahoo!!

 

FYI, ethanol isn't placed in gasoline to exactly clean emissions. Ethanol is put into gasoline to replace MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether). MTBE is the pollutant. The EPA has evidence to show MTBE cancerous to lab rats and mice. US Geological Survery found traces of MTBE is 1/4 all our country's fresh water. The EPA hasn't created a federal ban yet, but individuals states have created its own legislature on MTBE ban. This explains why certain states have ethanol and some don't.

Ethanol is a byproduct of organic materials where MTBE is byproduct of crude oil. So our economical challenged farming industry can benefit from its crop due to demand of ethanol. Now instead of relying solely on imported oil, we can manufacture portions of our gasoline domestically. Brazil is the worlds leading ethanol producer, and it puts 85% ethanol in its gasoline.

So, it may hinder our performance a little, but it will be better overall in the long run. Not to mention, it will be federal law soon. Also, the legislative team is working with auto-manufacturers in "adapting" older (a few years) cars toward efficient ethanol combustion. Ford already has vehicles which can run on 85% ethanol. They have the cool FFV emblem.